Line Throwing Appliances (LTA)

TABLE

Length of ship in meters	Minimum number of lifebuoys
Less than 24 meters	2
24 meters and above but less than 60 meters	4
60 meters and above	6

(3) The lifebuoys shall be:

(b) fitted with a buoyant life line complying with the requirements specified in LSA code.

(4) At last half of the lifebuoys shall have self igniting lights complying with the requirements specified in LSA code.

(5) Every such ship of 60 meters or above in length shall carry

1. 
   one lifebuoy on the navigation bridge capable of being released with a self activating smoke signal complying with the requirements specified LSA code.
   
2. 
   Every such ship shall carry life jackets equal to the number of persons it is certified to carry complying with the requirements specified LSA Code and shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and their position shall be clearly indicated.
   

1. 
   the Master shall provide to every person on board clear instructions to be followed in event of an emergency ;
   
2. 
   at least two certificated persons shall be carried to take charge of survival crafts and to assist and train other untrained persons;
   
3. 
   each member of the crew shall process a certificate indicating that he has attended an approved course on "survival at Sea";
   
4. 
   the crew shall practice the process of abandoning the ship and the use of life saving appliances at least once every 15 days;
   
5. 
   the Master shall ensure that all life saving appliances are in working order and ready to immediate use when she leaves port and at all times during the voyage.
   

1. 
   Every ship of class XIII, XIV and XV of more than 60 meters in length shall carry--
   

.2 one manually operated locating device complying with the requirements of Part II which shall be so stowed that it can be readily placed in any survival craft;

2. Every such ship shall carry:

(a) either rescue boat or survival craft complying with LSA code and

(b) life-rafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate all persons the vessel is certified to carry.

Rule 68

Ships of less than 60 meters in length:

1. Every ship of Class XIII, XIV and XV of less than 60 meters in length shall carry--

(a) Survival Craft Emergency Position indicating radio beacon complying with the requirements of Part II which shall be stowed in a protected and easily accessible position ready to be moved to any survival craft in an emergency ;

(b) One manually operated locating device complying with the requirements of Part II which shall be so stowed that it can be readily placed in any survival craft;

(c) life-rafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to carry all persons the ship is certified to carry;

Provided that:

(i) Every such ship of less than 24 meters in length engaged on the coasting trade of India may carry in lieu of life-rafts a boat complying with the requirements specified in the ........ Schedule.

(ii) Every such ship of less than 12 meters in length may not comply with the requirements of rule 8 and 9, if they do not go beyond 12 miles from the coast.

1 Pyrotechnics have a limited period over which they can be safely and effectively used. Over time the materials making them up can deteriorate and cause the device to either fail to work or present a risk to the operator.

2 Out of Date pyrotechnics should be properly disposed of and should not be used either as a backup or as a form of firework.

3 The Competent Authority in view of above highlights the following risks and safeguards surrounding the use and disposal of Time Expired Pyrotechnics (TEP).

.1 Due to the potential instability of the equipment, damaged or out of date pyrotechnics should not be used.

.2 Flares must never be used after expiry date. Pyrotechnics must be treated as hazardous waste and should be disposed of responsibly in accordance with regulations and local rules.

.3 Out of date pyrotechnics should be landed ashore as soon as possible after the date of expiry for safe disposal in the following manner;

3.1.Pyrotechnic suppliers or their agent

3.2. Life-raft service station, as these stations deal with the disposal of expired pyrotechnics on a regular basis;

3.3. Port, harbour or marina where your vessel may l accept out of date pyrotechnics for disposal (a charge may be made).

3.4. HM Coastguard accepts some out of date pyrotechnics for storage at Coastguard sites prior to disposal.

.4 It shall be an offence under the relevant provision of the Act to fire distress-signal pyrotechnics on land, in harbour or at sea for

4.1. Testing purposes

4.2. practice

4.3. or fireworks

4.4. Dumping pyrotechnics at sea (Whether the pyrotechnics are out of date or not).

1 Additional Life Saving Appliances, system and arrangements if carried on board over and above to the prescribed requirements under these rules shall be maintained in operational state. These shall always be kept in state of readiness by the ships Master and the Crew.

2 The defective such Life Saving Appliances, system and arrangements shall either be removed from the ship or made operational as the case may be.
Rule 71

Scope of LSA Code:

1 It extends to the standards in respect of design, construction and maintenance for following-

.1 General Requirements for Life saving appliances - covering construction, workmen ship and materials

.2 Personal life saving appliances – covering specification, waterproof material and fitness for use

.3 Visual signals – covering integral means of ignition and handling

.4 Survival Crafts – capability to with stands exposure and minimum carrying capacity including the mass and fittings/ equipments

.5 Rescue Boats - capability to with stands exposure and minimum carrying capacity including the mass and fittings/ equipments

.6 Launching & Embarkation appliances – Operational under unfavourable conditions of trim and list

.7 Other Life saving appliances such as LTA & General Alarm system – Capable to use with reasonable accuracy and alerting in time.

2 Revised testing and evaluation of Life Saving Appliances in accordance with applicable Assembly /MSC Resolutions for the purpose of prototype/production and operations are adhered to as prescribed in the LSA Code amended from time to time.

1 the ship owner, ship manager and ship master or skipper or Tindal as the case may be shall be prohibited to make any alterations to the ship or vessel or fishing vessel in respect of installing any Life Saving Appliances, Arrangements and systems without the permission of the Competent Authority.;

2 the Ship owner, ship manager, ship master, skipper or Tindal and crew shall maintain condition of the ship in respect of proper and efficient functioning of LSA, arrangements & systems at all times;

3 the ship owner, ship manager, and ship master, skipper, Tindal and crew shall notify in the event of any damage to the LSA, arrangements & systems, in course of ship or vessel & fishing vessels operation to the nearest Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, who performs the functions of a Port State Authority or Port Authorities, this authority shall communicate the information to the Competent Authority;

4 the ship master or the skipper or Tindal shall not take ship to sea, unless:

.1 the ship or Fishing vessels or vessel comply with the relevant LSA, arrangements & System requirements;

.2 the ship or Fishing vessel or vessel is provided with a valid appropriate certificate under the provision of Merchant Shipping Act,1958 and under these rules as the case may be on board.; and

.3 the Master, skipper, Tindal , seamen and fishermen have the right to complain on any matter pertaining to safety of ship and crew or fishermen to the Competent Authority.

.4 duty of the owner to enable the master to carry out his obligations under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and these rules.

Rule 73

Survey & Certification:

1 For the purpose of efficient and effective LSA systems, equipments and associated arrangements, the ship & vessels shall be inspected and surveyed by the Competent Authority or the Recognized Organization approved by the Central Government to verify the compliance with these rules and on satisfactory completion of inspection/survey.

2 The ship, vessel or fishing vessel as the case may be shall be issued with appropriate certificate in accordance with provision of M.S. Act 1958 either by the Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department or his Surveyor under the District or ROs or Registrar of Sailing /Fishing Vessel as the case may be.

Rule 74

Quality Control:

1 To ensure that quality control of LSA, system and arrangements as the case may be is being maintained, the surveyors of the Competent Authority or RO shall pay occasional visit to the manufacturers work or LSA facility or on board ships as the case may be and may select sample of LSA, system or arrangements as the case may be for verifying the quality of material used and workmen ship employed or he may observe the servicing or functionality of LSA, system and arrangements as the case may be if required at random for checking.

2 In general, only a visual examination will be called for, but if the surveyor is not satisfied with any LSA, system or arrangement (any departure from original design), he should report the circumstances to the Competent Authority who may require further proposed additional tests or recommend review. No fee will in general be charged for these random visits, but in exceptional case which leads to tests may become payable.

Rule 75

Power to Inspect:

1 For the purpose of compliance and control of safe operations of LSA systems and equipments as prescribed in these rules, the official of Competent Authority or Principal Officer of the Mercantile Marine Department District or any person recognized by the Central Government by the gazette notification may board ships to verify the compliance with these rules. The authorized official may exercise such controls under SOLAS 1974 as amended to which India is party chapter I, regulation 19 and chapter XI, regulation 4 and shall follow the procedure of control stipulated in Organization Assembly resolution A 787(19) as amended by A 882(21) or other instruments issued by Organization from time to time or Section 435-M of the act as the case may be. The ship or vessel may be detained if its general efficiency of LSA systems and equipments is adversely affecting the safety of a ship. The procedure for detention of unsafe or unseaworthy ships may also be followed by the authorized official as specified in section 336 to 342 of the Act & the relevant orders issued by the Competent Authority in this regard from time to time.

1 For periodical examination, inspection, survey and certification as specified by the Competent Authority through the relevant general or special Order from time to time. The fees structure for plan approval, testing, inspection, survey & certification shall be as follows;

.1 LSA Plan approvals –

.2 Testing of LSA including arrangements & systems –

.3 Inspection of LSA including arrangements & systems –

.4 Survey of LSA including arrangements & systems –

.5 Issuance of following relevant certificates;

.1 Safety equipment annual endorsements –

.2 Safety equipment certificate –

.3 Certificate of Inspection for fishing or sailing vessel –

.4 Duplicate certificates –

Rule 77

Appeal:

1 the owner, manager, master, skipper, Tindal, crew, agent, and any other person affected by the decision of the authorized official of the Central Government or the recognized organization has right to appeal against such decision. The appeal shall be made to the Competent Authority within a period of 15 days. Every appeal made under this rule shall be accompanied by a copy of order appealed against. The Competent Authority before disposing of an appeal shall give a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the appellant. An appeal shall be disposed off as expeditiously as possible but within a period of 60 days from the date of filing of the appeal. The Competent Authority may confirm, modify or reverse the order appealed against. The decision of the Competent Authority shall be binding on the appellant.

Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of these rules shall be liable to be punished as per Section 458 of the Act or other applicable provisions Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

1 The Merchant Shipping (LSA) Rules, 1982, 1991 & 1995 amendments are hereby repealed;

2 The existing ships or vessels or fishing vessel regulated under the repealed rules shall be deemed to have complied with these rules, provided such requirements as applicable to these ships or vessels or fishing vessels as the case may be are met by the ship or vessel or fishing vessel owner within the period of 12 months from the date of promulgation of these rules or next applicable survey as required under the provision of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, whichever is earlier.

Schedule (These schedule would be added later on):
Schedule I- Class C Boat (as per 1982 LSA Rules)

Schedule II – Minimum Number of Sets of Davit (as per 1982 LSA Rules)

Schedule III – Machinery of Mechanically Propelled Life Boats (as per 1982 LSA Rules)

Schedule IV – Requirements of Buoyant Apparatus (as per 1982 LSA Rules)

Schedule V – Specification of Equipments of Life Boats, Boats & Life Crafts including

EPIRBS, SART, Locating Devise & General Alarm System (as per 1982 &

1991 LSA Rules)

Schedule VI – Life Boat Disengaging Gears (as per 1982 LSA Rules)